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Updated: Jan 1, 2026

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Published on: March 8, 2018
[Post-traumatic stress disorder and psychogenic pain]
Julie Defrance1, Stéphane Foucher2, Eric Ramdani3
1Antenne médicale d'Oberhoffen, Quartier Estienne, 67240 Oberhoffen-sur-Moder, France.
Differentiating physical and psychogenic pain is crucial for managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding pain origins aids in developing multidisciplinary care plans for better patient outcomes and disorder recognition.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pain Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents with complex psychological and physical symptoms.
- Pain is a common yet often poorly understood symptom in PTSD patients.
- Distinguishing between injury-related and psychogenic pain is challenging but critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of differentiating physical and psychogenic pain in PTSD.
- To emphasize the role of pain aetiology in treatment planning.
- To advocate for integrated, multidisciplinary care for PTSD patients experiencing pain.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on PTSD and pain symptomatology.
- Analysis of the interplay between traumatic events, physical injury, and psychogenic pain.
- Discussion of diagnostic challenges and assessment strategies for pain in PTSD.
Main Results:
- Clear differentiation between trauma-related physical pain and psychogenic pain is essential for effective PTSD management.
- Understanding the specific aetiology of pain provides a foundation for targeted therapeutic interventions.
- Multidisciplinary assessment, including psychological state and life history, is key to comprehensive care.
Conclusions:
- Accurate identification of pain types in PTSD is fundamental for improving patient prognosis.
- Integrated care approaches enhance the recognition and treatment of PTSD-related pain disorders.
- Further research into the mechanisms of psychogenic pain in PTSD is warranted.
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